North London Mums is the place for everything of interest to North London Mums and North London Dads. We want to help other parents to find the best activities to do with their families, the best shops and websites to visit, and the most child friendly restaurants to eat in. We believe in supporting local businesses and other mumpreneurs and in building communities.

It's here at last. The main event this weekend is clearly the Olympics and with weather this good, you can get outside to watch it at BT London Live in Victoria Park or Hyde Park or Trafalgar Square. There's also a big screen at Haggerston Park, Hackney. If you've not got tickets, you can still soak up the atmosphere of watching with a crowd whilst the best of the Olympic Games is shown on giant screens - there are also sports activities and live music. Free entry.

Exciting news for all North London Mums! One of our favourite stores, JoJo Maman Bebe is opening a new sale store in NW11. To celebrate the opening of the New London Sale Store on 1st AugustJoJo Maman Bebe and North London Mums are giving away £50 worth of JoJo vouchers for one lucky reader to spend.

If it's the Olympics that you want to avoid, or just that you fancy a change of scenery during the long holidays, we're sure you'll find a day trip here that you'll enjoy. All of our recommendations are around 90 minutes or under from North London.

Kids parties can be very expensive, and can quickly get out of hand in terms of planning. From buying enough food to satisfy hungry children (and their parents) through to getting the right kind of entertainment and decorations, kids’ parties have mounting costs. However, kids’ parties can be budgeted for, even on a shoestring. Some of the most important ways to achieve lower costs include setting a limit on attendees, making your own entertainment, and asking friends and family for left-over party items. By doing so, you can save money and still have a great party.

We've had lots of requests from people with young (pre-school) children who are looking for drop-in classes and playgroups that run through the summer holidays. Those playgroups and classes listed below are running so you should have lots to do:

I passed a jewellery shop yesterday where a couple were looking at some jewellery. Sitting on the floor by their feet were 2 little boys, each with an iPhone in hand, avidly concentrating. Frankly, what did we do before iPhones and ipads?
Well, as you know we are always on the hunt for new and interesting apps and the team at Punflay asked us to look at Kandy Fish, an iPad app.

This morning we caught the Ninky Nonk and headed off to see In the Night Garden Live at Brent Cross, we weren't disappointed. I took my eighteen month old daughter who is a big fan of the TV show and a friend whose daughter had never seen it. Both children were utterly transfixed by this beautifully staged production that brings the characters to life.

There are lots of great reasons to get out and about with your family this weekend. Here are our favourite things:

Only one more weekend left after this weekend to see the great exhibition - Child Hood - The Real Event at Royal Academy of Arts put on with Kids Company- Paintings, poetry and sculpture created by children and young people
from Kids Company are displayed in the main galleries of 6 Burlington
Gardens, celebrating the small heroisms and sometimes difficult hurdles
these children face in growing up.
This exhibition includes interactive elements and features a complementary programme of events for both adults and families.

It's
hard to believe that the summer holidays are nearly upon us, but they
are coming fast. Here is our round up of all the best things going on, which we will update weekly in the run up to the holidays to make sure that you know about all the best things going on. Have a great holiday.

With the weather being so bad, our thoughts are turning to indoor activities to keep the children entertained this summer. Luckily lots of the museums run excellent events to help keep children entertained over the summer holidays. Here is our pick of the best:

Geffrye Museum, Shoreditch has a whole summer of activities with the theme Inside, Outside and Around the World -
Three weeks of exciting summer activities for children exploring home
and garden spaces from across the globe. Become a plant hunter and learn
about the international origins of different herbs, spices, flowers and
plants, bake tasty treats, create your own soaps and take a closer look
at mini beasts in the gardens. Do check out the activities as there is a
really fantastic range. Some need to be book in advance and some are
drop-in. Full listings here.

The clever people from Punflay (Emantras) have launched an educational app for pre-schoolers all about measurement, building on their popular Mathomatix series. We think it's pretty cool- and the kids do too.